Garbage can rack

ABSTRACT

In abstract, a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a rack for supporting one or more garbage cans above the ground. In particular, the rack of the present disclosure comprises a generally elongated tubular member adapted to be inserted within the ground and provided with generally transversely extending upper and lower support means for supporting and maintaining a garbage can on each side thereof. Also, the present disclosure provides a cooperable fluid pressure system for readily inserting the garbage can rack into the ground without the use of tools or digging implements.

United States Patent [191 yrd [ GARBAGE CAN RACK [76] Inventor: Jerry A. Byrd, 14850 W. Dixie Hwy., North Miami, Fla. 3316] [22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 283,428

[52] US. Cl 248/146, 248/D1G. 7, 248/156 [51] Int. Cl A47g 29/00 [58] Field of Search 248/DIG. 7, 146, 156

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,503,531 4/1950 Welter 248/D1G. 7

3,079,119 2/1963 3,141,644 7/1964 3,288,305 11/1966 Bryant et a1. 248/146 3,326,306 6/1967 Weir 175/207 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 318,387 9/1929 Great Britain 175/67 Jan. 29, 1974 984,010 7/1951 France ..175/67 Primary Examiner-Marion Parsons, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John G. Mills, 111 et a1.

57 ABSTRACT In abstract, a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a rack for supporting one or more garbage cans above the ground. In particular, the rack of the present disclosure comprises a generally elongated tubular member adapted to be inserted within the ground and provided with generally transversely extending upper and lower support means for supporting and maintaining a garbage can on each side thereof. Also, the present disclosure provides a cooperable fluid pressure system for readily inserting the garbage can rack into the ground without the use of tools or digging implements 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures 1 GARBAGE CAN RACK BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to support structures and more particularly to a support structure of the type adapted to support receptacles, containers, garbage cans and the like. I

Presently many individuals choose to place their garbage cans directly on the ground, outside of their dwelling. When placed directly on the ground, the garbage cans are continually exposed to the grounds surface and water runoff, both of which tend to rust and generally deteriorate the garbage cans, consequently shorting the total life thereof and requiring more frequent replacement. I

Also, garbage cans are typically placed in and near areas where children play and domestic animals run. If the cans are not properly tied down by some means, it is not uncommon to find them tipped over and the garbage therein spilled out onto the ground, the tipping over being in some cases instigated by children playing or a curious animal such as a dog. Moreover, strong winds always present the possibility that unsecured garbage cans will be blown over and the garbage therein spilled. Wind has the potential to move garbage cans considerable distances from their normal place, and when cans are blown over highways, sidewalks, concrete drives, etc., serious damage can result, especially to,the light-weight tin type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, a garbage can rack of simple, reliable and economical design that is adapted to support one or more garbage cans above the ground such that the garbage cans are not continually exposed to the ground and to water runoff has been developed. By supporting the garbage cans above the ground, the cans are kept relatively free of rust and tend to have a longer life than comparable constructed cans placed directly on the ground. Moreover, the garbage can rack of the present invention supports and retains the garbage cans in an upright posture at all times, thereby preventing the cans from being'tipped overby dogs, children or wind. V

Therefore, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive garbage can rack for supporting and retaining one or more garbage cans above the level of the ground'such that the garbage cans are not subjected to weathering and are generally held stationary, thereby preventing inadvertent and accidental tipping and the spilling of garbage therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple and easy to construct garbage can rack that may be readily inserted into the ground for support thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a garbage can rack that includes means for supporting at least one garbage can above the level of the ground such that the garbage can may be readily removed and replaced into the rack without requiring substantial ef fort and time.

More particularly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a simple and practical garbage can rack comprising: a main .elongated tubular support member adapted to be inserted upright into the ground; a lower support bar fixed intermediately to said main tubular member and extending transversely thereacross for supporting the bottom of a respective garbage can on each side of said main tubular member; and a pair of circular bands of predetermined diameter fixed to an upper portion of said main tubular member, each circular band being aligned with said lower transverse bar and adapted to encompass'an upper portion of a respective garbage can for retaining the can adjacent said main tubular member.

A further object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a cooperably fluid pressure system for displacing a selected volume of soil or dirt underlying said garbage can rack such that a rack may be inserted into the voided area created by the displaced soil or dirt without the use of tools or other digging implements.

. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and obvious from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the garbage can rack of the present invention, the rack shown therein supporting a pair of garbage cans;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the top of the rack of the present invention, the rack shown therein also supporting a pair of garbage cans;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom of the garbage can rack; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the garbage can rack with the cooperable fluid pressure system being operatively associated therewith for stationing the rack within the ground.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, the garbage can rack of the present invention is shown therein and indicated generally by the numeral 10. In particular, the garbage can rack 10 comprises a main support means in the form of an elongated tubular member 12. The tubular member 12 may be constructed of galvanized pipe or other suitable material, and is generally disposed such that a lower portion thereof is supported within the ground G.

The garbage rack 10 further comprises upper and lower support means 16 and 14, respectively, the upper and lower support means extending generally transversely of the main support tube 12, as viewed in FIG. 1, and particularly adapted to support and retain a conventional garbage can 18 on either or both sides thereof.

Viewing the lower and upper support means 14, 16 in detail, it will be seen that the lower support means 14 includes a transverse bar of angle iron having an upper horizontal surface 14a for supporting the lower or bottom portions of the garbage cans 18. It is further noted that the lower support means 14 is welded, or fixed by other suitable means, to an intermediate point of the main support tube 12. Thus, when the main support 12 is securely stationed in the ground G, the transverse lower support 14 is preferably spaced above the ground such that the garbage cans 18 are not exposed directly to the ground, as best seen in FIG. 1.

Referring to the upper support means 16, it will be observed that a pair of circular bands are fixed to the top portion of said main support tubular member 12 and extends generally outwardly therefrom in alignment with the lower transverse bar 14. These circular bands 16 are particularly adapted to encompass the upper portions of garbage cans 18 and thereby principally function to retain the cans while they are supported by the lower transverse bar 14. It is, of course, obvious that the diameter of the circular bands 16 must be slightly greater than the diameter of the garbage cans 18, such that the garbage cans may be readily removed and replaced within the rack.

In order to provide a suitable opening within the ground G for inserting the lower portion of the main support tubular member 12 without requiring tools, or other digging implements, the present invention discloses a fluid pressure system, indicated generally by the numeral 20 in FIG. 5, for displacing soil or dirt below the lower portion of the main support member 12 such that as the soil is displaced, the tubular member 12 gradually moves down into the ground occupying the voided space created by the displaced soil.

In particular, the fluid pressure system of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible water hose 22 that is operatively connected to a pressurized fluid source (not shown), preferably a water faucet. The flexible hose 22 further includes a fluid exiting end 24, the fluid exiting end having a conventional variable pressure water nozzle secured thereto.

To station the garbage rack within the ground G, the flexible hose 22 is threaded through the top of the main tubular member 12 and lowered such that the fluid exiting end 24 is disposed in close proximity to the ground G underlying the lower portion of the main support member 12. Next, the pressurized fluid source is actuated and fluid is conveyed through the flexible hose 22 and out the fluid exiting end 24. As the fluid exits from the fluid exiting end 24 of the hose 22, the soil or dirt underlying the bottom portion of the main support member 12 is displaced, thereby creating a void area beneath the main support member 12. As the fluid continues to exit from the fluid exiting end 24, soil is continually displaced and the lower portion of the main support member 12 continually and gradually sinks into the ground G. It should be pointed out that voided area created by the displaced soil or dirt generally conforms to the cylindrical shape of the tubular member 12; and, in fact, the nature of the arrangement assures that the voided area will only be slightly greater in diameter than the tubular member 12, thereby giving rise to a secure and snug fit which assures that the garbage can rack 10 will be securely anchored within the ground G. Once the main support member 12 is stationed at an appropriate depth, the pressurized fluid source (not shown) is cut off and the hose 22 is removed from the main tubular support member 12.

After the garbage rack 10 has been securely stationed in the ground G, by the process just described, the garbage cans 18 may be inserted within the circular bands 16, with the lower portions of the cans 18 resting on the horizontal surface 14a of the transverse bar 14. It is, therefore, readily appreciated that the cans 18 are supported a distance above the ground G and are retained within the circular bands 16 such that dogs, children and wind may not tip the cans over and spill the garbage contained therein.

Thus, it is obvious that the present invention presents a simple, reliable and relatively inexpensive garbage can rack that may be readily secured into the ground by a fluid pressure, preferably water, and does not require tools or other digging implements. Moreover, the garbage rack of the present invention supports and maintains the garbage cans above the level of the ground, thereby preventing the cans from weathering and becoming deteriorated in their early stages of life. Also, the garbage can rack 10 assures that the cans will not be tipped over inadvertently or accidentally, but is of such a design that enables the can to be readily removed and replaced within the rack without requiring substantial effort or time.

The terms upper," lower, forward, rearward, etc., have been used herein merely for the convenience of the foregoing specification and in the appended claims to describe the garbage can rack and its parts as oriented in the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that these terms are in no way limiting to the invention since the garbage can rack may obviously be disposed in many different positions when in actual use.

The present invention, of course, may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range are intended to be embraced herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A ground supported garbage can rack for supporting a pair of garbage cans above the ground and a cooperable fluid pressure system for sinking said garbage can rack into the ground comprising in combination: a hollow tubular main support member adapted to be inserted into the ground and supported thereby in an upright position; a rigid single piece lower horizontal support member fixed generally about a mid point thereof to a side portion of said main tubular support member and extending outwardly therefrom for supporting a garbage can on each side of said main tubular support member; a pair of encompassing bands fixed to said main support tubular member above said single piece lower horizontal member and completely independent thereof, each encompassing band being of a predetermined circumference and extending outwardly over a portion of said single piece lower support member in a cantilever fashion; and a cooperable fluid pressure system for readily inserting said tubular main member within the ground without requiring tools or digging implements, said fluid pressure system comprising a generally elongated flexible tube being operatively connected to a pressurized fluid source and having a fluid exiting end, said flexible tube being adapted to be inserted into the top portion of said main tubular member such thatthe fluid exiting end terminates in close proximity to the ground whereby the actuation of said fluid pressure system results in the soil immediately underlying said tubular member being erodingly displaced allowing said main tubular member to be inserted within the void created by the displaced soil. 

1. A ground supported garbage can rack for supporting a pair of garbage cans above the ground and a cooperable fluid pressure system for sinking said garbage can rack into the ground comprising in combination: a hollow tubular main support member adapted to be inserted into the ground and supported thereby in an upright position; a rigid single piece lower horizontal support member fixed generally about a mid point thereof to a side portion of said main tubular support member and extending outwardly therefrom for supporting a garbage can on each side of said main tubular support member; a pair of encompassing bands fixed to said main support tubular member above said single piece lower horizontal member and completely independent thereof, each encompassing band being of a predetermined circumference and extending outwardly over a portion of said single piece lower support member in a cantilever fashion; and a cooperable fluid pressure system for readily inserting said tubular main member within the ground without requiring tools or digging implements, said fluid pressure system comprising a generally elongated flexible tube being operatively connected to a pressurized fluid source and having a fluid exiting end, said flexible tube being adapted to be inserted into the top portion of said main tubular member such that the fluid exiting end terminates in close proximity to the ground whereby the actuation of said fluid pressure system results in the soil immediately underlying said tubular member being erodingly displaced allowing said main tubular member to be inserted within the void created by the displaced soil. 